The Humanistic Tradition, Book 1: The First Civilizations and the Classical Legacy Review

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(More customer reviews)I highly recommend this series of six books. When I was in college, I bought one of the books because it looked so interesting even though I wasn't taking the course. In the past year, I've ordered the other books in the series. The books are very interesting and informative, with many color pictures of the art and architecture discussed. The books also discuss literature, philosophy, and the history of science. The graphic layout of the books is excellent and there are many reading selections of literature and philosophy. Even though the series concentrates on western humanities, there are also excellent sections on Asian, African, Islamic, and Native American arts.

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Interdisciplinary in approach and topical in focus, the sixth edition of The Humanistic Tradition continues to bring to life humankind's creative legacy.With more than 800 illustrations and some 150 literary sources in accessible translations, this widely acclaimed humanities survey takes a global perspective that is at once selective and engaging, and helps students better understand the relationship between world cultures.Available in multiple formats, The Humanistic Tradition examines the political, economic, and social contexts out of which history's most memorable achievements emerged.

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Landmarks in Humanities Review

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(More customer reviews)I can honestly say this book kept me interested. I was not looking forward to the course. I started reading this book and my outlook changed.

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Landmarks in Humanities is a single-volume survey of global culture designed for students of humanities, cultural history, and history of the arts. In chronological sequence, Landmarks highlights the most notable monuments of the human imagination--those works of art and architecture, literature, philosophy, and music that have been foremost in shaping the world's cultures.The text reflects the author's extensive background in the study of Humanities which has enabled her to craft a narrative that is at once brief and comprehensive, giving students a thorough understanding of the humanities without overwhelming them with detail.Each of the text's fifteen chapters is centered on a key idea related to the period being discussed and contains a series of valuable pedagogical features including chapter ending timelines, high-quality maps, and boxed material examining primary sources and cross-cultural comparisons.In addition, an outstanding supplements package accompanies the text, featuring a wealth of resources for both students and instructors.

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The Humanities in Western Culture: Brief Version, 4th Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)More than what I expected! Every artist should have one - it relates history periods to cultures then units all the arts together so you can have perfect understanding of it as a whole. Really fantastic! Full of information!

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Designed to for a one-semester Western humanities course, this concise text offers a lavishly produced art program and abridged literary selections. The revised fourth edition has been updated throughout and now includes a unit on the twenty-first century.

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Living with Art Review

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(More customer reviews)"Living With Art" is a fairly common textbook for intro to art classes, but it manages to rise above the level of a superficial survey. Even though it's probably intended as a textbook, the format doesn't waste space for someone wishing to brush up on their art history outside of the classroom. By that I mean there aren't lengthy end-of-chapter reviews, projects, or answer keys. Having read fairly thoroughly in the field of art and aesthetics, I was not expecting to get a lot out of this book. How much can one really say about art in a single volume? Surprisingly, Getlein says a lot in a very readable, succinct manner.
The book starts out with the impossible question, "what is art"? One of the most pleasant surprises was the discussion of the nature of art. With such a variety of opinions and ideas, to present the major ones in a clear, concise manner is something of an achievement in itself. It sets the tone for the later chapters which are a straightforward history from ancient cave drawings to Jeff Koons inflatable lobsters.
The book itself is quite nice. The images are reproduced with all their detail and color intact. Granted, the images are small, but they are also plentiful. Virtually every point is supported with an image as an example. This is one textbook that students will want to hang on to.
As an alternative, I would recommend E.H. Gombrich's "The Story of Art". It's probably superior in every respect, but it's also a little more difficult for beginners and casual readers. That's not to say that most readers couldn't pick it up and get a lot out of it.
Whether you're looking to brush up on your art history, or you're a student and this is a required purchase, you have a lot to look forward to. I've seen a lot of "comprehensive" histories, but "Living With Art" ranks amongst the top.

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Throughout the previous seven editions, this text has earned a reputation for elegance and the highest standards of quality. Living with Art helps students develop an appreciation of art by offering a clear and comprehensive introduction to the visual arts from several perspectives: themes and purposes of art; the vocabulary of art; individual art media (painting, drawing, camera arts, sculpture, architecture, etc.); and the history of art. The book is rich with illustrations drawn from a wide range of artistic cultures and time periods.

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The Humanistic Tradition, Volume 1: Prehistory to the Early Modern World Review

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(More customer reviews)Excellent text. The author takes great pains to make the information "user friendly." Very professionally produced with great photos and such. I enjoyed reading this volume outside of class work.

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"The Humanistic Tradition is quite simply the finest book of its type. Fiero manages to integrate the political, cultural, and social history of the world into one coherent and fascinating whole. It is a masterpiece of scholarship . . . balanced, interesting, easy to read, and consummately beautiful. Our professors praise its accuracy and scope and our students unanimously say it is their favorite textbook." — Sonia Sorrell, Pepperdine University
The Humanistic Tradition features a flexible, topical approach that helps students understand humankind's creative legacy as a continuum rather than as a series of isolated events. This widely acclaimed interdisciplinary survey offers a global perspective, countless illustrations, and more than 150 literary sources. Available in multiple formats, The Humanistic Tradition explores the political, economic, and social contexts of human culture, providing a global and multicultural perspective which helps students better understand the relationship between the West and other world cultures.

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The Western Humanities Volume 1 Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is an excellent resource for college students interested in humanities. This was the text used for my Humanities class. It was very easy to read and I was able digest the material covered without falling asleep. The photos are excellent and the captions are detailed. This is an excellent book well worth the asking price.

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Chronologically organized, The Western Humanities presents the cultural achievements of western civilization--art and architecture, music, history, literature, philosophy, theater, film and the other arts--within their historical context. By examining the historical and material conditions that influenced the form and content of the arts and humanities, the authors provide students with a clear framework, a deeper understanding of the meaning of cultural works, and a broader basis for analyzing and appreciating the cultural achievements of the West.Hundreds of illustrations bring the arts and humanities to life, while extensive pedagogy consistently asks students to think about, interpret, and apply the information throughout the text and at the end of each chapter.

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